Today is my 16th birthday. Now that… is just scary to accept. I remember just when I turned 13 years old; I probably had only read 10 ‘real’ novels, books without pictures, books that were more than 250 pages in length. Yet now, 3 years later, I’ve consumed a whole library of books – 736 books according to Goodreads – and gained knowledge that I most certainly would have not accumulated this soon without them. And for that, I am thankful.

Turning 16 means I’m the same age as several of the protagonists in the YA books I’ve read over these years, and while I still haven’t discovered myself a demigod, a Shadowhunter, a witch, a tribute, a badass huntress, or uncovered some ancient family history that ties me to an unbreakable curse *touch wood*, it’s still been a pretty spectacular year.

3 things that I’ve learned

You can’t make people change. What others do/think is up to them, and you honestly don’t get a say in how or when they go about that. You can’t make people change just because YOU want them to.

Nothing is ever as bad or scary as it seems. Even public speaking. Or a piano exam. Or embarrassing yourself in public. Who cares about what others think of you? The only person who gets a say in that is you.

Time is precious. So don’t waste it just sitting there like a blob and make the most of each day. Even if it is binge-watching TV shows… right?

3 things that I’m really proud of

I travelled overseas without my parents. At the start of this year, I travelled to America as part of a school trip. It was such a refreshing experience and so much fun – I even recapped my trip.

I was quoted on the front cover of one of my favourite series. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

I became an Inky Awards judge. One of the most rewarding experiences that I’ve ever had – I loved discussing books with fellow teenagers and just being apart of something so big.

16 things I want to do/accomplish before I turn 17

Read 830 books

Conquer my fear of public speaking

Win at time management

Work at a bookstore or pharmacist

Create my own library with books filled EVERYWHERE

Binge-watch all 10 seasons of Friends for the second time

Learn how to code (other than the basics)

Learn how to use Photoshop

Beat my personal best for running 5K

Win at self-control (hahaha…)

Worry less about the little things

Go travelling one last time before I begin the VCE

Keep a journal of some sorts, or even a planner. Just something that I must commit to daily.

Memorise the Periodic Table (I’m not sure why but I really want to do this)

Go skiing for the 3rd time

Re-read Harry Potter!

And that concludes my birthday post. I’m not really sure if I’ll be able to accomplish every single thing on my list, but I do hope to do at least 8 of them before this time next year. Goodbye for now, lovelies!

Melanie is one of the totally fabulous bloggers at YA Midnight Reads. She's a 16 year old student from Melbourne, Australia. She is normally found binge watching TV series, reading , blogging, procrastinating or fangirling about how Percabeth is the best ship ever. She's also a lover of caps lock and uses it excessively.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVELY. I am SO proud of you. Even more proud after reading of all your accomplishments. Running 5km? Dayummmm girl. I believe in you and I’m sure that this time next year, all 16 things on that list will have been ticked off (:
Wishing you lots of happiness and hope you have a great day.

Happy Birthday Mel!! You have a lovely blog and I look forward to reading more of your posts 🙂 You’ve definitely accomplished a lot! And that’s amazing, you got quoted on a book cover :OOOOlivia @ Fictionally Obsessed recently posted…We’re now obsessed – Fictionally and Literary-ly!

Happiest of birthdays! I hope that the year ahead is a wonderful one, and that you accomplish everything you put your mind to. That’s an impressive list of goals! <3Hannah recently posted…Review: Ash & Bramble – Sarah Prineas

Happy birthday Melanie! Congratulations on all the things you have accomplished so far. I’m sure more awesome-ness will follow in the years to come. And you better start now if you want to memorize the periodic table in between reading hundreds of books 😉Haraiah recently posted…Me and My Bookshelf (34): August Book Haul

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEL! BUT I HAVE A QUESTION. Do you mean you’re going to read 830 books in one year?! BECAUSE WOAH. AND WOW.
But anyway! CAKE FOR ALL AND SPRINKLES AND CONFETTI. And that’s super awesome you were a judge and fajdkla I remember when you first said you were quoted on that series and omg, I am in awe of your fabulousness skills, obviously.Cait @ Paper Fury recently posted…Do You Like Unique Formatting in Books?

HAPPY 16TH MEL!!! loved reading this post. That’s so awesome that you got to be a judge for an award! and also that you got blurbed?? ON THE FRONT PAGE? um how cool! if your fifteenth year was that awesome, i have no doubt in my mind that your sixteenth year will be even better!! <333Annie recently posted…Some Books I Didn’t Like + My Thoughts On Them

Happy Birthday, Mel! A year is a long time (no matter how quickly it seems to pass) and I believe you can achieve all your goals!! Hope you have an amazing day and get lots of books to help you toward that 830 goal XDBec @ Readers in Wonderland recently posted…ARC Review: Vengeance Road

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELANIE!! I can’t get over how much you’ve done so far in your life. At this rate, I’m sure you’ll do great things in the future. (I love to binge-watch “Friends” too!)Lexa Cain recently posted…Celebrate: Organization & Giveaways!

Happy Birthday, Mel! You should be proud of everything you’ve accomplished already in your life. No, honestly. YA Midnight Reads is one of the most beautiful and wonderful blogs I follow. I looked up to (still do!) so much when I wee little blogger, and you should be so proud of how far it has come because of you!

This is so awesome of you to have all these goals, which you surely will be able to accomplish. You seem so very mature for your age and it’s really amazing and admirable. As I’m 21, I see a lot of people around me whom aren’t even close to the maturity/goal driven/outlook oriented as you. Good for you, Melanie.

Happy birthday, my dear!! Haha I want to learn how to code too. I manage to mess up even the most basics. I am SO proud to see you quoted on that cover, I want to read that series now. ooh and you were a judge?! How cool!! Traveling to another country without parents is such a different experience… Once again happy birthday you lovely friend <3

Happy birthday Melanie! I’m turning sixteen in slightly less than a month so I get you! And travelling without parents (and with a sister who loses her passport) is fun 🙂 Why do you want a pharmacy ob (though I totally get you on the bookstore one ) I like all your goalsShanti@Weavingwaveswords recently posted…Review: Graceling

I feel like I’m slacking when I’m reading about your accomplishments. You’re on your way to the top! Happy 16th birthday, Melanie! 🙂Priscilla and her Books recently posted…The Girl in the Road: Review + Tour Stop

Happy birthday Mel! 😀
Reading this post, I feel like you’re one to look up too. It seems you’ve learned quite some lessons by your 16th birthday that took me a lot longer to figure out! Good luck with your list of things to do before you turn 17. I really want to learn to code as well. I know the basics, but not much more than that.

Happy Birthday Mel! I hope you have the best of days. Be proud with all that you have accomplished so far in life and all that you will achieve in the future, no matter how great or small. You’re certainly on your way to living the life! What a great set of goals to have (I would love to work at a bookstore too!) Continue to have an amazing day and I hope you get spoilt with lots of bookish goodness!

Happy birthday Mel! ??? I hope it’s a great one filled with friends, family, books and cake. xx

I am so blessed to be able to call you a friend – you are one of the most intelligent and supportive people I’ve ever met, and I love talking and fangirling with you (PERCABETH IS LIFE). You always make me smile and laugh, and I love your enthusiasm and passion.

Thanks for sharing these wonderful goals – I have no doubt you will accomplish them. ♥Zoe @ Stories on Stage recently posted…The Kiss of Deception

Happy Birthday! I’m almost 16, and I liked what you learned. Piano exams aren’t great though… but no, I don’t think they’re as bad a s they seem. It’s awesome that you got to go on Inky Awards and get featured on the cover of that series, even though I haven’t personally heard of those books or of Inky Awards (must be Australian). Good luck with your goals! 😀Shar@weavingwaveswords recently posted…Review: Graceling

Happy Birthday!! You have achieved SO much, it is quite impressive! And your list of things to do? Equally impressive, but I have no doubt you will be able to do them all! Hope you have a fabulous birthday, and a hugely successful year to come 🙂Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight recently posted…This Week At Midnight (77) + Giveaway

Hey Mel, it was your birthday, we are all gonna party (and by party I mean read books) like it was your birthday! I am lame, I KNOW.

736 books is a LOT of books 😀 *high fives* Soon, you’ll have almost read 1000! WHICH IS A HUGE NUMBER.

Isn’t it weird being the same age as a lot of the characters you read about? I know I had that moment a couple years ago with some characters and it was like, WOAH, we’re the same age but our lives are COMPLETELY different.

I am so happy you got quoted on the cover for the Rephaim series <3 It's one of my favs too and in a couple more days I am going to finish reading it when I finish Burn *bursts into tears because she is not ready for the series to end*

You are an impressive lady and I really admire the level of thoughtful reflection that went into all of these points. You are very introspective, and that will serve you well. I aspire to be so self-aware and collected on my next birthday! I hope you had a great day and are ceasing today…if only by binge watching a favorite show 😉Audrey Greathouse recently posted…My New-Found Love for Book Bloggers

Belated happy birthday Melanie! I hope the next year is just as awesome as the last (you’ve done some pretty amazing things!) and good luck reaching all your new goals 🙂Wattle recently posted…Showcase Sunday #33

Awww Mel, happy belated birthday! I am so proud that you are finally 16, when we’ve been bloggy friends since you were 13. You have made some great achievements and I wish you all the best for your sweet 16th! WOAH 830 books?! WHATJeann @ Happy Indulgence recently posted…BOOKTUBE VIDEO: Top 5 Aussie YA Author Recommendations

Happy 16th Birthday, Melanie! I think reading books is among the best way of learning things – both when it comes to real life, different cultures, empathy, and lore. Plus, I think that it brings us the possibility to be able to see things from different perspectives than our own.
I wish you all the best to reach your goals this year, and I’m sure you’ll be able to make it! *hugs*Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews recently posted…The Sunday Post #57 – Charlie Winston!

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Midnightians

Melanie is a 16 year old student from Melbourne, Australia. She's known as that crazy melodramatic fangirl to her friends and loves spending her time procrastinating, fangirling over Percabeth, wasting her life away on Twitter and reading (duh). Addictions include gummy bears, ice-cream, coffee and binge-watching TV shows. Friends, New Girl, The 100, HTGAWM and Sherlock are her true loves.

Celine is 18 years old and from the Netherlands. She's been a reader for as long as she can remember, and she believes she will be one forever. Though books will forever remain her number one, she also loves food, singing like no one's listening (even though they probably are), dancing like no one's watching (in her dance class, AKA where people are definitely watching) and doodling on every place that can and can't be doodled on.